Meet Meg Wagler: The Visual Artist & Illustrator Who Took No Shortcuts

The best advice I’ve ever received is: Build in Rest. Unapologetically.

Meg Wagler

How did your early experiences or background contribute to your decision to enter this field?

After earning my BFA in 2011, I began my career as a graphic designer, gradually advancing to Art Director and eventually Creative Director for brand and web design. I enjoyed directing photo shoots and seeing my work reach the public. However, after about 10 years in the commercial space, I realized my passion was fading, and I was becoming disengaged from creating work that felt disconnected from my personal expression. I knew I needed to rekindle my creativity, so I started painting again on the side. It didn’t take long to notice a reignited spark. In 2019, I finally left the agency world and established my independent art practice, where I paint, illustrate, and art direct for communities, organizations, brands, and individuals who align with my values and purpose.

Leading with a value-first alignment has allowed me to engage in a wide array of work that keeps me excited and motivated to grow my practice and skill sets. I’ve painted large-scale murals, commissioned fine art, and illustrated for books, textiles, stationery, and much more. My first criterion is: Does this align with my values? Then: Will this bring joy and fulfillment to me and others? If the answer to both is yes, it rarely matters what the project requires. When I feel aligned, I know I can creatively solve problems because I care about the mission. I’m all in.

How did you deal with skepticism or doubt from others when you started your journey?

I think my experience in an agency setting early in my career really helped me develop the ability to receive criticism without taking it personally. So, when I receive criticism of my work online or in person, I can separate my feelings from the work. I also realize that most people aren’t trained like artists to articulate why they like or dislike something. Their inability to communicate that often results in insults rather than curiosity or questions. I try to be patient while maintaining boundaries of respect.

Online trolls can be the worst because they don’t see (or care about) the damage they can cause with hateful commentary. Although it doesn’t happen often, I’ve received some nasty comments from strangers online—but I’ve learned to embrace it! While some people recommend ignoring those comments, I find power in reclaiming my personhood in those moments. Instead of directly responding (which can spiral), I screenshot the hateful comment and share it with my trusted community for emotional support. It’s unhealthy to repress feelings of shame or embarrassment from a nasty public comment, so I flip the narrative and ask my community something like, “Hey, this one really hurt. Can you help me by weighing in?” And they always show up. Having a trusted community is key, whether it’s a group of close friends or a larger following. They help me see through the criticism more clearly.

How did your success change your perspective on your work and future goals?

I got my first mural by simply saying out loud that I wanted to paint a mural one day when a reporter asked me about my future goals. Someone read that article and contacted me that same week. I was both excited and terrified, as I had never painted on that scale before, and now I had to figure it out!

I quickly organized an apprenticeship with a local muralist who graciously let me help install some art and learn her process. After a few reps with her, I felt much more confident in taking on my own project. I scheduled the mural, completely underestimated how much paint I’d need, and got to work.

With a little fumbling and a lot of effort, I completed my first big mural, which became a major catalyst for growth in my art business. The lesson I learned is simple but powerful: Just get started. Say yes, do your research, and begin. Know there will be lessons and setbacks, and look for them. You’ll become sharper, faster, and more resilient with each project. This applies to all aspects of your creative practice. Just start.

How do your current projects challenge you in new ways compared to your past work?

In many ways, my past experience as an art director makes me a better artist today. However, it’s not always easy to shake the habits of an art director, such as catering so much to the client that you lose your own voice and style. That’s desirable when working with brands—every artistic decision is made based on what’s best for the brand. But when creating for yourself, it can be difficult to rediscover your own style and reconnect with your intuition. This was certainly the case for me.

I think it took me a solid year or two of independent practice before I felt like I’d truly settled into a style that felt authentic. My current projects challenge me to be thoughtful and purposeful in my “why,” to stay focused on my style while remaining open to exploration. Whereas my old work was based on an objective, my current work is rooted in intuition.

What is the best piece of advice you received during your career, and how has it influenced you?

The best advice I’ve ever received is: Build in Rest. Unapologetically.

I can’t emphasize enough how toxic grind culture is, especially for an art practice. It burns you out and paradoxically stunts your success. I know this firsthand. Coming from an agency setting where creativity is monetized by the quarter hour, I was pre-programmed to be a workaholic, regularly working 50–60 hours a week. Despite this, I was often behind and dreaded the mountain of work before me. When I left the agency setting, I vowed not to carry those habits with me, but I failed at first. It was harder than expected to break free from the more-is-more work mentality, and I found myself working morning, noon, night, and weekends for about a year.

A friend eventually asked, “Meg, when was the last time you stopped thinking about work?” I couldn’t answer. Running your own business means it’s common to never stop thinking about it—emails, phone calls, business development, finances, and the art practice itself, which often gets pushed aside for other pressing tasks.

Pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion is a surefire way to hamper your success. A tired brain isn’t as creative, resilient, or nourished. Your work suffers, your communication suffers, and you suffer. It’s crucial to set boundaries, and more importantly, to stick to them. It looks different for everyone, but for me, it means:

• No work-related texts. I kindly ask that work items go through email or social platforms so I can turn those apps off at night and still communicate with loved ones.

  
  

• With some exceptions (like murals at festivals), I don’t work nights or weekends. After 6 pm, I’m off the clock and don’t respond to work emails until the next morning. This sets a healthy precedent with clients and myself.

  
  

• I proactively schedule rest days. Knowing I can easily get caught up in work, I set Out Of Office days for rest and recharging. These days allow me to choose what brings me energy, like going on a hike or drawing in a sketchbook. Scheduling rest has improved my work ethic and productivity. Rest is now becoming a natural and intuitive part of my work rhythm.

"Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." - Erich Fromm

Check out Meg's company - Wagler Art & Illustration: www.megwagler.co/  

Follow Meg on social media:

Instagram: @megwagler_illustration

Facebook: Meg Wagler Illustration